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Livingston County, Illinois

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 102highest risk in Illinois
$33Mexpected losses a year
9federal declarations
1 in 83homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Livingston County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $33 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $915 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (157 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.0 million on 282 claims here, including $1.6 million for floods in 2008.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Livingston County

$22.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate81.1
$22M
Cold waveModerate83.5
$5M
TornadoLow52.4
$1M
Strong windModerate75.8
$1M
EarthquakeLow71.2
$931K
DroughtModerate73.3
$677K
LightningModerate68.3
$500K
Heat waveLow49.1
$385K
HailLow39.4
$187K
Winter weatherLow41.3
$51K
Ice stormLow35.9
$47K
HurricaneVery Low25.7
$11K
WildfireVery Low2.6
$1K
LandslideVery Low34.5
$464

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Livingston County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm3
Flood2
Severe Storm2
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Mar 7, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 17, 2001Illinois Winter Snow StormsEmergency
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Mar 6, 1990Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 13, 1982Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 417 storm reports in Livingston County since 1950, with 4 deaths and 18 injuries and about $12.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 5, 2010 near Missal.

58tornadoes
97hail reports, largest 5.5 inches
203damaging thunderstorm winds
46floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 2010EF3Missal0 / 0
Apr 7, 1954F3–0 / 0
Jun 11, 2026EF3Long Point0 / 0
Jun 5, 2010EF2Sunbury13 / 1
Jun 7, 1980F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 5, 2010TornadoSunbury$3M
Jun 7, 1980Tornado–$3M
Sep 29, 1986Tornado–$3M
Jan 8, 2008FloodLodemia$2M
Jun 5, 2010TornadoMissal$750K
Apr 7, 1954Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Livingston County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (157 policies)
14.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2 millionpaid on 282 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $1.6 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Livingston County

$142,200median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1961median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.7%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 15,930 housing units.

Compare in Illinois

All 102 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Cook CountyVery HighInland flooding
DuPage CountyHighInland flooding
Lake CountyHighInland flooding
Will CountyHighInland flooding
Kane CountyHighInland flooding
McHenry CountyModerateInland flooding
Winnebago CountyModerateInland flooding
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
McLean CountyModerate9
LaSalle CountyModerate18
Kankakee CountyModerate5
Grundy CountyLow13
Woodford CountyVery Low12
Ford CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Livingston County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Livingston County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Livingston County, about $22.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Livingston County had?

Livingston County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in May 2013.

Is Livingston County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd highest of 102 in Illinois. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Livingston County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Livingston County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Livingston County had?

NOAA records list 58 tornadoes in Livingston County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 5, 2010 near Missal. The weather service has also logged 97 hail reports and 46 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.